System and methods for providing magnetic resonance imaging data for an image reconstruction

Abstract

The embodiments relate to an image reconstruction to be carried out on a base unit of a MRI system, where data is formed by reception signals obtained by a local coil unit. Provisions are made for an alternating magnetic field, modulated in accordance with a reference clock, the alternating magnetic field to be used by the local coil unit for obtaining electric energy for supplying local electronics of the local coil unit and the reference clock to be retrieved from the received alternating magnetic field by the local electronics, a radio signal containing MRI information representing the reception signals and clock information representing the retrieved reference clock to be produced by the local electronics and transmitted to the base unit, and the received radio signal to be processed by the base unit such that the data and the clock information are retrieved therefrom and provided for the image reconstruction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for providing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for an image reconstruction to be carried out by an evaluation apparatus on a MRI base unit of a MRI system, wherein the MRI data is formed by MRI reception signals obtained by a MRI local coil unit of the MRI system, the method comprising:
 producing an alternating magnetic field by the MRI base unit, wherein the alternating magnetic field is modulated in accordance with a reference clock; 
 obtaining electric energy for supplying local electronics of the MRI local coil unit from the alternating magnetic field by the MRI local coil unit; 
 retrieving the reference clock from the alternating magnetic field by the local electronics, defining a retrieved reference clock; 
 producing a radio signal containing MRI information representing the MRI reception signals and clock information representing the retrieved reference clock by the local electronics and transmitted to the MRI base unit; and 
 processing the radio signal by the MRI base unit, wherein the MRI data and the clock information are retrieved therefrom and provided to the evaluation apparatus for the image reconstruction. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alternating magnetic field is a rotating magnetic field. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the MRI information in a form of digital MRI data is modulated onto a carrier signal of the radio signal produced on the MRI local coil unit. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a carrier signal derived from a clock signal retrieved on the MRI local coil unit, onto which the carrier signal the MRI information is modulated, is used to produce the radio signal. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the MRI information in a form of digital MRI data is modulated onto the carrier signal of the radio signal produced on the MRI local coil unit. 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the MRI information is modulated onto the carrier signal by amplitude modulation or amplitude-shift keying. 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the amplitude-shift keying is an on-off keying. 
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the MRI information in a form of digital MRI data is modulated onto the carrier signal of the radio signal produced on the MRI local coil unit. 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a carrier signal derived from a clock signal retrieved on the MRI local coil unit, onto which the carrier signal the MRI information is modulated, is used to produce the radio signal. 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the MRI information is modulated onto the carrier signal by amplitude modulation or amplitude-shift keying. 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the MRI information in a form of digital MRI data is modulated onto the carrier signal of the radio signal produced on the MRI local coil unit. 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the MRI information in a form of digital MRI data is modulated onto the carrier signal of the radio signal produced on the MRI local coil unit. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the MRI information in a form of digital MRI data is modulated onto a carrier signal of the radio signal produced on the MRI local coil unit. 
     
     
       14. A method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a MRI base unit and a MRI local coil, the method comprising:
 producing an alternating magnetic field by the MRI base unit, wherein the alternating magnetic field is modulated in accordance with a reference clock; 
 obtaining electric energy for supplying local electronics of the MRI local coil from the alternating magnetic field by the MRI local coil; 
 retrieving the reference clock from the alternating magnetic field by the local electronics, defining a retrieved reference clock; 
 producing a radio signal containing MRI information representing MRI reception signals and clock information representing the retrieved reference clock by the local electronics and transmitted to the MRI base unit; 
 processing the radio signal by the MRI base unit, wherein the MRI data and the clock information are retrieved therefrom and provided to an evaluation apparatus for an image reconstruction; and 
 carrying out the image reconstruction by the evaluation apparatus on the MRI base unit of the MRI system, wherein the image reconstruction comprises a comparison of phases between the reference clock and the retrieved reference clock. 
 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the alternating magnetic field is a rotating magnetic field. 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the MRI information in a form of digital MRI data is modulated onto a carrier signal of the radio signal produced on the MRI local coil. 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a carrier signal derived from a clock signal retrieved on the MRI local coil, onto which the carrier signal the MRI information is modulated, is used to produce the radio signal. 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the MRI information is modulated onto the carrier signal by amplitude modulation or amplitude-shift keying. 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the amplitude-shift keying is an on-off keying.